A room called hope

Gander family opens up home to patients travelling for treatment

When someone falls seriously ill, the burden on their family can sometimes be overwhelming, with costs and stresses amassing quickly. And for those that must travel for treatment or surgery, sometimes hundreds of kilometers from their homes and families, the strain can be even greater.

A HELPING HAND – Claudette Menchenton and her family have opened up a guest room in their Gander home at no cost to individuals or families travelling for medical treatment. The private room includes a double bed, TV, fireplace, table and chairs, and an attached bathroom.

One Gander family is trying to ease some of that burden for others by offering them a warm, safe and free place to lay their head when travelling across the island for medical treatment.

In June, Claudette Menchenton, her husband Michael, and their two children moved in to a large home, and she started thinking about ways to utilize some of the extra space for a good cause. Menchenton said she has many friends and family members that have had to travel to receive treatment for various illnesses from cancer to Crohn’s. She also knows first hand how stressful and costly medical related travel can be.

“My husband actually is a colitis patient and had to have a couple of surgeries, he was very sick. Sadly we’ve had to travel and we had nobody to help us, we had to do it all on our own and it was quite costly. I felt that if any way someone could have lifted our burden that certainly would have helped us a lot,” Menchenton told TC Media.

“I thought, you know what, we’re right in the middle of Newfoundland, and many people pass through (Gander). Maybe we could be a pit stop for a family that needs it.”

Menchenton has since renovated a guest room in her home to offer up to families or individuals travelling across the province for medical treatment.

The room, dubbed the ‘hope room,’ is fully private with an attached bathroom, and includes a fireplace, table and chairs, as well as a TV. Menchenton she plans to sanitize the room after each use.

“And if they need breakfast in the morning that will be provided too,” she said.

Menchenton only began advertising the room on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon, and said within 15 minutes of posting her inbox was full with the messages of support as well as interest in booking the room.

You realize some things are bigger than yourself and you just do it, and figure it out as you go along.Claudette Menchenton

“I really didn’t think anyone would respond but I’m kind of overwhelmed with the response, it’s wonderful,” she said.

Though the room is ready to host its first guests, Menchenton said her family’s move to their new home hasn’t come without its challenges.

“We’ve had a lot of things go wrong with our home so the financial burden has been a hard strain on us, we’ve spent thousands and we still have more that has to be done,” she said. “But you can’t wait for your house to be perfect.”

Menchenton, a fitness instructor, community volunteer, and mother of two said she isn’t worried about the extra burden that comes with opening up her home to strangers.

“You realize some things are bigger than yourself and you just do it, and figure it out as you go along.”

Though Menchenton said she isn’t looking for recognition or thanks for her decision to offer the room, she does hope it inspires others to do the same.

“We certainly aren’t rich; we’ve been very blessed and we’re very thankful for what we do have. But it doesn’t take much to help others,” Menchenton said. “Maybe some people will say ‘I can do this in St. John’s’ or ‘maybe I’ll do this in Corner Brook.’ We just hope others will look at that and do something to help someone else and make an impact on their life.”

Anyone interested in booking the room can contact Menchenton by phone at 424-5189 or 256-7629.

A HELPING HAND – Claudette Menchenton and her family have opened up a guest room in their Gander home at no cost to individuals or families travelling for medical treatment. The private room includes a double bed, TV, fireplace, table and chairs, and an attached bathroom.

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Recent comments

Hi Daphne as time goes on i am sure i will be continuing to buy new bed sheets, towels and face clothes and of course food to keep that room in well supply but i am sure that will come in time as the room gets used. Thank you for your offer it is much appreciated..Paying if forward is such a blessing and fills our hearts with joy!